In August of 2011, a man was accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl by the alleged victim and her boyfriend. The man is a professor at the River Falls campus of the University of Wisconsin, and he was facing false imprisonment and child sexual assault charges.

New evidence, though, has eliminated the professor as a suspect in the sexual assault case. The two teenagers previously testified that they did not engage in any sexual activity prior to the alleged incident. To the contrary, DNA testing has revealed that sexual contact between the teenagers occurred and the teens - who are the only witnesses to the alleged crime - have confessed to police that they lied when they said they didn't engage in any sexual activity.

The professor's attorney filed a motion outlining how his client could not have committed the act in question, and it would seem the professor will be acquitted. The professor said that he saw two teenagers engaging in sexual activity in a theatre, eventually confronting them about their behavior. The teens were not truthful in their summary of the events, and with DNA evidence on the professor's side, it is likely the case will be resolved soon.

Though it seems like justice has been served, there are still the side effects of the accusation of a sexual assault crime. This professor's reputation has been permanently altered - may it be by a small or significant amount - because of the fabricated story the two teenagers told investigators. The professor seems to have been proven innocent, but the unintended consequences of the charge will linger for some time.

That is the reality with such a serious matter like sexual assault, and this story shows how vital a role criminal defense plays in any case.

Source: Hudson Patch, "DNA Excludes UWRF Professor in Alleged Sexual Assault Case," Jeff Roberts, Feb. 13, 2012